2001-Jun-02: Chocolate Sunset

Nestled quietly in a corner of this year's Royal Academy Summer Exhibition hangs entry No 62 , Chocolate Sunset by Sir Paul McCartney: Not for sale. An abstract oil painting signed and dated 1991.

Never before seen in public, "'this is a rather surreal picture, like some of his songs," says exhibition curator British pop artist Peter Blake (best known for his design of the cover of the Sgt Pepper album). Mr. Blake went on to praise Sir Paul's work stating, "He's got tremendous integrity as an artist. He is extremely serious about his work, about his painting, and I have hung it out of respect for him as a painter."

Paul McCartney, Ronnie Wood, Holly Johnson and the late Ian Dury all have work displayed in the show. "I feel these musicians are serious painters," says Peter Blake. "It is not a publicity stunt; they are here as painters."

The exhibition opens to the public on June 5 and will run through August 13. (see entry for May 15 below).